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TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE vs NETGEAR GS308E

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE scores 6.3/10 overall, ahead of the NETGEAR GS308E at 6.2/10.

The TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE leads on poE and firmware and support.

The NETGEAR GS308E leads on noise and efficiency.

They score the same on port speeds, management and port count and uplinks.

5-Port Gigabit Easy Smart Switch with 4-Port PoE+

TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE

6.3/10verdict: good, not the best

This TP-Link switch suits a small home or office network that needs a few PoE devices such as access points or cameras. It adds VLANs, QoS and IGMP snooping to a five-port gigabit layout without a fan. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs faster-than-gigabit ports, fibre uplinks or a large PoE budget.

Typically about £39.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

NETGEAR GS308E

NETGEAR GS308E

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The NETGEAR GS308E is for people who want a small, silent eight-port Gigabit switch with basic VLAN support. It suits homes, bedrooms and desks where a fan would be a nuisance and plug-and-play setup matters. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs PoE, faster than Gigabit ports or deep Layer 3 management.

Typically about £24.97 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightTP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PENETGEAR GS308E
Port speeds30%6/106/10
Management20%7/107/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%8/109/10
PoE10%6/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/104/10
Overall6.3/106.2/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PENETGEAR GS308E
Ports5 RJ45 ports (10/100/1000 Mbps), of which 4 are PoE+ (ports 1-4)8 x Gigabit RJ45, no 10G port
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps on all ports; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE ports listed8 x 1G ports, auto-negotiating; no 2.5G or 10G ports
ManagementWeb-based UI and Easy Smart Configuration Utility; VLANs (port-based, tag-based, MTU), QoS, IGMP snooping, PoE Auto RecoveryWeb-managed Easy Smart interface; VLAN, QoS, cable health check and loop prevention
PoE budget65 W total PoE budget, up to 30 W per port under 802.3af/atNone (PoE ports and PoE budget N/A)
Switching capacity10 Gbps switching capacity, 7.44 Mpps packet forwarding rate, 2K MAC table16Gbps bandwidth
CoolingFanless design with metal casingFanless (0 fans, 0 dBA at 25°C)

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE

  • + Fanless metal casing, so no fan noise
  • + VLANs, QoS and IGMP snooping in a web UI
  • + Four PoE+ ports at up to 30 W each
  • − Gigabit only; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE ports listed
  • − No SFP/SFP+ uplink confirmed
  • − 65 W total PoE budget is shared across four ports

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP+ uplinks
  • People powering several high-draw PoE devices near 65 W
  • Anyone wanting controller-managed or full L3 switching
Read the full TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE review ›

NETGEAR GS308E

  • + Fanless, with 0 dBA listed
  • + Web-managed with VLAN, QoS and loop prevention
  • + Plug-and-play setup; maximum draw of 3.7W
  • − Gigabit only, with no 2.5G or 10G ports
  • − Owners criticise firmware update frequency and process
  • − Layer 2 only, modest web UI and no mobile app

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE for access points, cameras or phones
  • Anyone with 2.5GbE or 10GbE devices or who wants SFP uplinks
  • People who need advanced Layer 3 features or a polished management UI
Read the full NETGEAR GS308E review ›

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